deprive
dih-PRYV
Deprive (verb) means to take something away from someone, or prevent them from having it. Example: “The long illness deprived her of the chance to travel that year.”
verb
1
To take something away from someone, or prevent them from having it.
""By means of the Golden Cap I shall command the Winged Monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City," said Glinda, "for it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler.""
— L. Frank Baum (1900)
"The long illness deprived her of the chance to travel that year."
"Solitary confinement deprives prisoners of normal social contact."
"If we had been deprived of it, the most serious consequence would be that we'd be deprived of philosophy."
— Plato, translated by Lesley Brown (2005)
How to use deprive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop someone having or getting something they need or want.
Common mistake
Always followed by "of" — you deprive someone OF something, not "deprive someone something".
Common pairings
deprive someone of
deprived of sleep
deprive a right
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- deprives
- Past tense
- deprived
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The long illness _____ her of the chance to travel that year.
Etymology
From Old French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from Latin de- + privare, "to take away as one's own."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for deprive
See all rhymes for deprive →Frequently asked questions
What does “deprive” mean?
The word “deprive” means to take something away from someone, or prevent them from having it. In plain terms, to stop someone having or getting something they need or want.
How do you pronounce “deprive”?
“Deprive” is pronounced dih-PRYV (/dɪˈpɹaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “deprive” in a sentence?
Here is “deprive” used in a sentence: “The long illness deprived her of the chance to travel that year.”
What is another word for “deprive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “deprive” include bereave and impoverish.
What is the opposite of “deprive”?
The opposite of “deprive” — its antonyms — is enrich.
What part of speech is “deprive”?
“Deprive” is a verb.
Where does the word “deprive” come from?
The word “deprive” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from Latin de- + privare, "to take away as one's own.".
Is “deprive” a common word?
“Deprive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
